Boy's tooth knocked out in late-night street attack

A group of children as young as 11 were beaten in a
late-night street attack in Masterton by a teenager armed
with a length of wood, police say.

Masterton police Sergeant Paul Lee said the group of
children, all boys aged 11 to 13, were attacked in Bannister
St about 1am yesterday.

In an unrelated incident about 6pm on Saturday, a Masterton
man was assaulted after confronting a man allegedly
attempting to steal a motorcycle from his property.

The man and other members of the public chased the alleged
culprit on foot for about 1km. A 19-year-old man was later
arrested.

Mr Lee said one of the children assaulted in the later attack
had a tooth knocked out and another had a tooth cracked. Both
were taken to Wairarapa Hospital for treatment.

Two of the children had avoided becoming involved in the
attack and escaped injury. Police believe a length of wood or
long stick had been used to beat the two victims.

Mr Lee said a 17-year-old youth had been arrested and was
being held in custody to appear in Masterton District Court
today, charged with assault with a weapon.

The children had been referred to Child, Youth and Family, Mr
Lee said, independently of the assault charge and
investigation.

"That children of that age were out in the street at such a
late hour was very concerning."

Police were still investigating whether others were involved
in the attack on the children and if further arrests were
possible.

In the unrelated matter involving the attempted motorcycle
theft, Mr Lee said the alleged offender had been arrested at
an Intermediate St property, about 1km from Pownall St, where
the foot chase had began.

The resident had suffered minor injuries in the assault, he
said.

Mr Lee said the officers had entered the Intermediate St
property using the new Search and Surveillance Act that came
into effect on October 1.